A Blog

Just another Northwest Florida Daily News site

20 years ago – 1993 Four people were injured in three separate Okaloosa County accidents involving personal watercrafts. 10 years ago – 2003 Thomas Nathan Taylor, a pioneer in the local banking industry, passed away May 29 at the age of 89. Taylor, whose banking career spanned three decades, helped establish the Bank of Fort Walton, which was the city’s first bank, in 1948. After more than 10 years, there was a new Freedom Way. Hurlburt Field and Okaloosa County officials formally… Read More »

20 years ago – 1993 Senior Tony Williams, who during his four seasons with the Fort Walton Beach High School baseball team won more games (25) than any other pitcher in Viking history, was selected as the Northwest Florida Daily News Player of the Year. 10 years ago – 2003 An Okaloosa County woman was suing Nissan, one of the world’s largest automobile companies, claiming she lost vision in one eye after being struck by an airbag that deployed in… Read More »

20 years ago – 1993 Competition for water scooter rentals was heating up at the sea wall on Okaloosa Island as a pair of rental operators spared over prime positions on Choctawhatchee Bay. 10 years ago – 2003 It was announced that Chumuckla’s favorite son, Jeff Miller, would be one of six congressmen representing the United States in a historic visit to North Korea. The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council agreed to spend tourist tax dollars on more signs, flags… Read More »

20 years ago – 1993 The Air Force’s controversial C-17 transport performed well during severe-weather testing at the McKinley Climatic Lab. 10 years ago – 2003 The Crestview City Council rejected the Okaloosa County League of Cities’ plan to divide the gas tax revenue, saying the proposed formula shortchanged the Hub City.

20 years ago – 1993 An increase in inmates testing positive to exposure to tuberculosis at Okaloosa Correctional Institution prompted health officials to close the facility to incoming prisoners. 10 years ago – 2003 Michael Green, a former Troy State runner, broke from the pack early and coasted to an easy victory in the 18th annual Gate to Gate Run. His time of 21:21 was off the record of 20:56 he set in winning two years before, although Green wasn’t too… Read More »

20 years ago – 1993 Two armed men sprayed diners in the sidewalk cafe with gunfire. The burst of noise and the resulting devastation startled those studying “Dynamics of International Terrorism” – just what their instructors had intended, to show how sudden a terrorist attack could be. The gunmen were instructors from the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School. They were simulating a real attack that killed Americans in El Salvador. A festering dispute about ownership of Gulf of Mexico-front property… Read More »

20 years ago – 1993 The sign next to the boat ramp off Newport Drive and Pompano Street in Navarre said the water access was private, defying 30-plus years of public use of the park. 10 years ago – 2003 Joyce Holland, a local writer was tapped by former Bay County medical examiner Dr. William Sybers, who was once convicted of his wife’s murder, to give his account of what happened in his Panama City Beach home 12 years before.

20 years ago – 1993 A Mary Esther man arrested on a drunken driving charge escaped, temporarily, from a transportation bus that was loading prisoners at the Shalimar Courthouse Annex. 10 years ago – 2003 A wayward alligator measuring nearly 9 feet in length was captured after being spotted by several beachgoers in South Walton County.

20 years ago – 1993 In the predominantly male field of aircraft maintenance, Maj. Tina Chester earned the highest honor. The Air Force recognized the commander of the 1st Special Operations Component Repair Squadron by awarding her the 1992 Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Trophy. 10 years ago – 2003 Emerald Coast finished ahead of Disneyland, Washington and many others in Priceline.com’s poll of most popular Memorial day destinations.

20 years ago – 1993 An 18-year-old Fort Walton Beach High School student was facing first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges for the death of her infant daughter. 10 years ago – 2003 Okaloosa County deputies and department brass were saluting Roy Parker, founder of the K-9 unit, for his 30 years of leadership and dedication at the time of his retirement.

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